Monday, April 05, 2010

Tamale and Zongzi

This evening as a part of Easter holiday, Maria of Maria and Isabel Housekeeping Service, gave me some Mexican food called Tamale to try. When I saw it, I was so struck by the look of it, and it immediately conjured in me an image of Zongzi that we eat during Duanwu Festival that falls on the fifth of May on Chinese calendar (And about Zongzi in Chinese here. )

Having a background in the study of anthropology, I sensed that the tamali is an ritual food item, made and shared among the family or members of a community, just like the Chinese counterpart. I also learned that the making of Tamale goes back to several thousand years to the native American culture with whom I feel we share a lots of cultural similarity, for instance, of paying respect to family ancestors and nature.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Connie and Richard

Today, I had two visitors for curry dinner at my place. They are Connie and Richard.
Connie is a well known person in Dubuque. Her partner Richard is from UK and conducts great conversation.
She left three books with me. And I would like to share the books with Sue Residents. These books can be a great introduction to those of us who came from out of the states. I have placed the books at the 2nd floor lounge located at 1020 university Ave. Come and enjoy reading about the past Dubuque, thanks to Connie and Richard.

Many of the Sue Residents are already familiar with Maria
who also stopped by to get the curry that I made. Maria has added some extra services for Sue Residents. Check her out at Maria & Isabel’s Special HouseKeeping Service page.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

A Song that Impresses Landlord like Me

This music video sung by a well known artist, Joey Yung, reminds me of some tenants in the past. I am referring to a business woman with two children from Taiwan, who stayed with us for a year. It always amazes me how a mother with full time job back home came all the way here to take care of her children and at the same time studying MBA at the University of Dubuque. She left a memory that I cherish as landlord here. Hope she with her family is doing fine and continues her success at home in Taiwan.

I just came across a song about spring season from China, when I visited the Chinese Youtube Channel. It is quite timely. And the lyric and the singer’s voice very beautiful. Hope you also enjoy. Here is the rough translation of the lyric by the same author:

《感谢春天》歌词 - Thank You Spring Lyrics:

如果我是河流，我要感谢你，春天
If I was river, I would like to thank you, spring,
是你给我破冰的勇气，
It was you that gave me the courage to break through ice,
是你给我奔流的信念
It was you that gave me the faith to flow free,
如果我是土地，我要感谢你，春天
If I was the land, I would like to thank you, spring,
是你给我拓荒的力量，是你给我收获的甘甜
It was you that gave me the strength to open up virgin land,
如果我是岁月，我要感谢你，春天
If I was time, I would like to thank you, spring,
是你让我千年梦回，
It was you that kept my thousand year old dream alive,
是你让我百年梦圆
It was you that realized my dream of a century,
哦，感谢春天，感谢春天
Oh thank you spring, thank you spring!
神州万里同此心愿
Every inch of our magical land make this wish together.
感谢春天，感谢春天
Thank you spring, thank you spring,
我们共有一个难忘的春天
Let us share an unforgettable spring.

如果我是乡村，我要感谢你，春天
If I was the countryside, I would like to thank you, spring,
是你给我原野的舒展
It was you that gave my fields a comfortable stretch,
是你给我孩子的笑脸
It was you that put smiles on the faces of my children,
如果我是城市，我要感谢你，春天
If I was a city, I would like to thank you, spring,
是你给我崛起的召唤，
It was you that gave me the call to rise above high,
是你给我青春的容颜
It was you that made my face youthful again,
如果我是未来，我要感谢你，春天
If I was the future, I would thank you, spring,
是你给我和谐的蓝图，
It was you that painted for me the blueprint of harmony,
是你给我幸福的诗篇
It was you that wrote for me a poem of happiness,
哦，感谢春天，感谢春天
Oh thank you spring, thank you spring!
春风怀里同声祝愿
In the bosom of the breeze of spring,
感谢春天，感谢春天
Thank you spring, thank you spring,
我们走进中华永远的春天
Let us walk into the spring of China, the spring of eternity

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Spring is a Moving Season: Fear of Landlords Heightens

It is inevitable that there always exist perception gaps between what tenants expect of landlord and the vice verse. From landlords’ point of view, the most challenging aspect of running apartment rental business is the relationship management with tenants. People of all walks of life drops by and landlords hope to welcome those strangers who can stay peacefully without much problem. Just as equally, landlords hope to go through the transition of tenant’s moving out experience as painlessly as possible. But once in a while, we get some tenants who leave us wondering why things happen and end in this way: I mean the trashing of apartments and disappearance into the darkness, leaving us to sort things out alone and bring a renewed urgency of order. It can be some kind of experience for a newly initiated landlord. Following are some pictures that I have collected over a period of one year. Just a food for thought and be prepared mentally in time of moving season.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Spring is here and I miss my garden in Fukuoka Japan

It feels like spring season is around the corner today in Dubuque. A warm weather reminds me of the garden deck I used to have in my house; small but cozy and surrounded by green everywhere: see above the pictures of what I means. It looks very American in some sense. Actually I and my Italian-American step father built it together. It started out very barren but a ten year of time has done some transformation to the scenery. Time just flows…

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Make it a Laundry Day: Full service, just for $5 per Load!

Here is a choice option that you as a busy professional may like to hear about. Sue Residence with the help of Maria, has implemented a full service laundry program for busy tenants like you. Especially those living at 1020 University Ave, we offer a complimentary laundry service at $5.00 per load of wash and drying. However, to take advantage of this service, you are kindly requested to have laundry bag/hamper ready on every Thursdays ONLY. We will have them cleaned and folded and return them to you in a fresh plastic bag. For efficient service, please book this laundry service at Maria & Isabel’s Special Laundry Day Service page.

Coming Soon!Dubuque City Guide
Coming Soon!Faq
If you need to have your apartment cleaned and refreshed, please consider our Maria’s Magic Clean Maid Service. You can also place a request on our Inquiry & Request if you prefer to communicate the needs first.
Love Sue Residence Apartment Living? Help spread the word and accumulate some benefits with our Rewards Coupons. Please call Robert at (563)513-3700 for details.

About

Welcome to the Sue Residence Notebook. This is the place where guests of the Sue Residence can get familiarized with the ins and outs of the apartments. This is also the area where Robert and Maria can communicate on a regular basis with the guests